Sunday, January 14, 2007
ArtPact #8
The past week was, well, rough.
Emotionally, computerally, bureaucratically - you name it.
And, as much as I was determined to not let it all stop me from painting - it did. Big time.
I guess I have not yet reached the level of discipline that will force me to paint no matter what..
Which is why I'll never make millions as an artist, and thus depend on your generous clicks.
And yet - for those of you who do await to wash your eyes with some line, shape and color, here is something I did last year, for The JohnnyB's birthday.
It was his 40th, thus big, thus needed a special gift, thus I was paralyzed with no ideas.
Since I do not work, I felt weird to buy him something fancy and expensive (plus - I had no idea of anything expensive that would make him really happy), and so, I decided to do something that is more personal.
A calendar.
Yeah, I know - it sounds so lame, Eh?
Wait!
It was the ultimate ego trip: a calendar that's all about him.
Each month he got a pack that had a calendar page with pictures of him, a small gift and a little sketch/drawing/painting made by yours truly, all around a certain theme.
And so, January was dedicated to The JohnnyB's number one hobby: beer brewing.
Here you can see him rolling the carboy, with the beer sizzling inside
(or whatever it is that beer does in its pre-fermenting stage).
The gift that went with it was a voice-recorder bottle opener, on which I have recorded one of The JohnnyB's favorite sentences on TV.
Very nice, symbolic gift, if I may...
However, in his eternal talent, the JohnnyB erased the recording before even hearing it...
February was about another favorite thing: smoking...The JohnnyB somewhat resented that particular theme.
But hey, if a person smokes almost a pack of cigarettes a day, well, it deserves to be documented.
The gift that accompanied it was a cigarette lighter, shaped - and sounding - like a fire extinguisher. Very cool, and very relevant.
March was all about yet another one of The JohnnyB's famous hobbies, which is best described as causing bloggable disasters under the excuse of being a mighty handyman.This particular one is dedicated to CherkyB, by the way and by the artist.
The little loving gift of that month was this T-shirt - which he never, ever wore, as an insulted protest.
But I compensated for it in April, with a cheery green sketch of him gardening, another thing he loves to do. Due to the lack of success with the previous gifts, I simply went for a DVD from Netflix: The Constant Gardener. Real good movie, only not quite as pastoral as the name may suggest...
Then I came to a halt, following a traumatic visit to my homeland.
I only managed to get back to the calendar in July, in fond reminisce of our incredible vacation in the cook Islands, three years ago.
Here, The JohnnyB is happily tubing, being towed by the boat.
Minutes later, the joy turned into hysteria, as his hands were getting tired and he almost got launched into space, but the artist chose to portray the more pleasant moments of this ordeal.
For that month, the gift was a trip to Angel Island... can you tell I was starting to run out of ideas?
August was easy - our wedding.We made it through almost four and a half years already - major achievement, Eh?
Gift?
What gift?
The joy of having me as a wife was enough, I blissfully figured out, and skipped the gift for that month...
(I strongly suggest you do not comment on this one, The JohnnyB. Tread v-e-r-y carefully here!).
Now, if you've paid attention, you'll notice that I still owe the JohnnyB six more months on this calendar...
Good thing the first one due is in May!
And now, The JohnnyB's birthday is about to happen again: 10 days to go!!!
But, worry not, fair readers.
I already have a gift for him.
I think he's gonna like it.
A LOT!
And yes, I kinda stalled on this ArtPact.
Some may claim I cheated, even, as I did not post something I did this week.
Ah well... Sue me!
previous ArtPact... ...next ArtPact
Labels: Art, ArtPact, Wonders of The JohnnyB
What gifts!! I hope Johnny Brewer was duly grateful - though not wearing the t-shirt!! Perhaps he's keeping it for posterity?
# posted by 
: 1/15/2007 7:37 AM
I don't weat the T-shirt, as I believe I'm one of those few guys who tries not to have "plumbers butt" when he does things.
Having worked construction for a number of summers during college, I've seen it a heck of a lot more than Nava, so I think she's exagerrating. She sees a little bit of white and ...
Confucius says:
"Rare is the man who smiles with his rear".
If the white is smiling at you, well, what can I say?
Reading yourpost I was like wha?!
She painted each month?! wha?!
You are good!
Now that's the kind of gift that is remembered.
YOU R GOOD!
# posted by : 1/15/2007 12:33 PM
You told me not to sweat it at Christmas and told me about the calender you made for him...
but Nava!
I had no idea the perfectly marvelous nature of the calender!
# posted by : 1/15/2007 12:34 PM
Yeah, well, I guess I didn't quite realize what project I was getting myself into...
And there's also the calendar page that has photos, and the monthly gift, so it's tons of work -
- - - and I still need to do six of them!! :-&
So, for his upcoming birthday, it's gonna be much easier.
As for painting each month - well, my ArtPact is aimed at forcing me to paint each week, and more!
Oh, and - Thank you! :-)
Wow. Having a painting of The JohnnyButt dedicated to me is an honor beyond my wildest dreams.
I'll have to click on an extra advertisement tonight.
Got an idea for one of the months...
(it could be any of the months at this rate)!
how about one of The Johnny B sitting in front of computer parts...looking concerned yet pissed?!
Seems to be a running theme...
or you could do one of him "dusting"
;)
# posted by : 1/15/2007 4:53 PM
CherkyB, see - even the wildest dreams come true.
And to you, Rhonda dear, - it's always funny from the side, Eh?......
Good idea, though.
That was unequivocally some o' the most beautiful "cheating" I've ever seen!
Is really hard to pick a favorite, but the tubing pic just looks like where I'd love to be right now.
Thank y'all.
It's cool to see that everyone has a different favorite.
I think my favorite is the smoking one. Less impressive, perhaps, but it's the least traditional, pastoral and "safe" one, and the most abstracted, so I am quite proud of it.
As for the JohnnyB's favorite - well, it depends on his mood that day.
But he really, REALLY, doesn't like his smoking image.
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: 1/15/2007 7:37 AM Having worked construction for a number of summers during college, I've seen it a heck of a lot more than Nava, so I think she's exagerrating. She sees a little bit of white and ...
"Rare is the man who smiles with his rear".
If the white is smiling at you, well, what can I say?
She painted each month?! wha?!
You are good!
Now that's the kind of gift that is remembered.
YOU R GOOD!
: 1/15/2007 12:33 PM but Nava!
I had no idea the perfectly marvelous nature of the calender!
: 1/15/2007 12:34 PM And there's also the calendar page that has photos, and the monthly gift, so it's tons of work -
- - - and I still need to do six of them!! :-&
So, for his upcoming birthday, it's gonna be much easier.
As for painting each month - well, my ArtPact is aimed at forcing me to paint each week, and more!
Oh, and - Thank you! :-)
I'll have to click on an extra advertisement tonight.
(it could be any of the months at this rate)!
how about one of The Johnny B sitting in front of computer parts...looking concerned yet pissed?!
Seems to be a running theme...
or you could do one of him "dusting"
;)
: 1/15/2007 4:53 PM And to you, Rhonda dear, - it's always funny from the side, Eh?......
Good idea, though.
Is really hard to pick a favorite, but the tubing pic just looks like where I'd love to be right now.
It's cool to see that everyone has a different favorite.
I think my favorite is the smoking one. Less impressive, perhaps, but it's the least traditional, pastoral and "safe" one, and the most abstracted, so I am quite proud of it.
As for the JohnnyB's favorite - well, it depends on his mood that day.
But he really, REALLY, doesn't like his smoking image.
